Fixture and holder for fluorescent lamps



y 13, 1952 A. P. LE-INEN 2,596,337

FIXTURE AND HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Original Filed March 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheec l \J-JJ,J M14 F,F F

May 13, 1952 A. P. LEINEN FIXTURE AND HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 22, 1946 y 13, 1952 A. P. LEINEN 2,596,337

FIXTURE AND HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Original Filed March 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gj w, %m Md @5 gym 2.

May 13, 1952 A. P. LEINEN FIXTURE AND HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 22, 1946 Patented May 13, 1952 mx'roas ANDHOLDER R rwoansonng LAMPS Arthur P, Leincn,.Chicago, ILL, assignor to Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company, Des Plaines, 11L, a corporation ofIliinois or inal summat on March .2 94fir eria No- 656,402. Divided and this application January 21,1949, Serial No. 71,854

1i) Claims.

My in ention relates o fixtures and holde s fo fluorescen am s Thisapplicationis a division of my copendi eepn icati n Seria No- 65 ,40 fil d Mar h pne oftheobjects otrny invention is to provide in a lighting fixture improved means for holding fluorescent lamps in mechanically and electrically connected condition.

[further object is to provide -such a con- .struction in which means are provided for prev-ev itinst e emn fall n o t o the soc e i theva e widemaH o ina v tentl sh ndwite- .v construction ,of lamp holder.

la-f ther bject is to prov d a i pr ved eo ,st lu ionr f la p o d r a s a ter wit h retentacl further objec s and dva a es o he n em t o w l b app r nt irom th des ipt on an claims- .j t awin s nwhic anembodiinen of my invent on s Shown,

F gu e l i -p a iewe a l ght n fi tu e bodyin my invent on ,pa ts b in b ok awa F g. is asection on the lines-,2 oiFig l; F -r3 s en iewfrt j t e e o Pie- 2;

e is a vertical sectional viewshowing the wine nu tur rbuttpn c nection between t hood andreflector;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the construction Sh wn in ie- El a 611 t bo m n anview o t e co st ucti ,shvow w n Fis- F sa re el v tiona iew .o th f a in hasi 'l mpho er;

81is, a top plan view of the construction ,Fie'. .91 saf1t n ti nal-view of t ilio' derflwith t esockets and sh l em v d;

R -i 1 aron el vation l v w f heg mp yhq d rhwith the ock s nd s el i pla e;

mal s si e v ew of theya q ti ierba e lamp holder;

rig-1. 2: is n x a sect ona Vi$W o e o Fig, 1 3 isan axial sectionalview of the socket withth :la ab t t t b in rte Hie- 1:1 is nv a ial Se tiona View of h s c e and lamp end w hhth lam presse inw d y to its. extrem os t on;

Bi -1 51s an a a sect pnal V e o e So tnthe line 1 -15 .QI .IZ gshapedto provide abrupt drops .OrAiepres sion therebetween into which the wings of the nut Fig. '16 is an enlarged sectional view showinga portion of the connection between the .wiring terminaland lamp-engaging contact;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of oneof the binding terminals;

Fig. 18 is a rear el'evational view of the nonfioating base lamp holder;

Fig. 19 1s a' plan view of the shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a front eievational viewof thelamp holder with thelamp sockets and'shelf removed;

Fig. 21 is a-front elevational view orthelamp holder with the lamp sockets and shelf in.p1ace;

Fig. 22 is a side elevational viewof the lamp holder;

Fig. 23 is a vertical axial sectional view ofthe m o de Fig. 24' is an axial sectional-view ofthellamp holder withthe lamp end inserted.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view lof the lam socket onthe line 25-25 of Fige23;

Fig. 26 is' a top plan viewof thelamp holder; and

Fig. 27 is a wiring diagram of the lampland ballast circuit.

The construction shown comprises a channellike hood l in which the ballast l; lamp holders 3 and 6 and wiringii are housed and which sup.- ports the refiectorfi. "The plural lamp "holder 43 detachably mounted on one end. of the-hood has floatably mounted contacts for engaging thewend construction lamp contacts, and the plural lamp holder and star-terswitch holder 4 is detachably inountedion the other end i of the hood or .channeland has relatively fixed' contacts for engaging the end lamp contacts. Suspension iweld b'olts A l and thumbnuts 8 are provided for idetachablyfsv curing-the refiectorto the hood.

The weld bolts 1 are welded attheiri upper ends to the top ofthe-hood; 'TheirJlower ends extend downwardlytowardthe keyhole slots Sin thetop of the reflector. 9n the 1bw r ene of cas lt i thre d dthe wanton w n'ei' a, the W1 as it ofWhiQhmay Leas; the keyhol 45' t v therewith and which ma 1 0tpassthereth I a when thenu s are m n a ienmentih re ithslotst whenthe.nuts arei tulfned into lgn ent ke ol sl t 9 b sto 9P .n ho l 8 along which the wings of the wing ride s it is screwed onto the bolt the shoulders heing i! Theeyelet which is-riveted to th efledges of the may enter when turned sat trightcangles :tOMlthB keyhole slots.

*In order to enable the securingand removal of the reflector withrespect to the hoodw-ithout removing the lamp holders, the reflector is provided with openings l3 and i4 large enough to enable the passage of the lower ends of the holders 3 and 4 therethrough.

In connecting the reflector to the hood, the wing nuts 8 are turned to bring the Wings into alignment with the keyhole slots 3 and the reflector is moved up toward the hood to bring the keyhole slots opposite the wings of the wing nut. The lamp holders 3 and 4 which pass through the openings i3 and M in the upper part of the reflector assist in guiding the slots 9 into position. The reflector is then pushed still further toward the hood, the wings of the wing nut 8 passing through the keyhole slots. The reflector is then held firmly in position against the side edges of the hood and the wing nuts 8 are tightened up until they hold the reflector snugly against the side edges of the hood. They may be tightened up sufficienly to spring the upper portion of the reflector slightly to provide a spring-pressed engagement between the reflector and hood. The wing nuts are finally turned to a position in which the wings enter the depressions l2, thereby holding the wing nuts against turning and holding the reflector securely in position.

When the reflector is removed from the hood,

the holders 3 and 4 may be readily attached and detached with respect to the hood. For this purpose, sheet metal brackets are secured to the ends of the hood, each of which brackets is provided with a pair of extensions l5, each extension I5 having a downwardly opening guide slot l3 therein into which the lateral edges of the end or base plates ll of the holders slip in assembly.

For latching each plate ll in assembled position,

it is provided with a laterally-extending embossed keeper l8 which co-operates with a leaf spring latch member l9 which may be formed integrally with the end bracket.

As the holder is pushed up into position, the

latch member |9 snaps in below the keeper i8 and latches the holder in position. For supporting and positioning the holder in the hood, it is provided with a horizontal shelf rigidly secured to the plate ll, the laterally-extending ends of,

which, when the reflector is in place, lie between the lateral flanges 2| of the hood and the top of the reflector 6. Each lamp holder 3 has two sockets for co-operation with two lamps, though it may readily be designed to take care of other numbers of lamps.

The floating base lamp holder 3 comprises the vertically disposed sheet metal housing and lamp supporting base member ll detachably secured to the hood, a pair of sheet metal octagonal casing members 22 permanently secured thereto for housing the floating insulating contact-carrying bases 23 and associated apparatus, respectively, and the positioning, wire-deflecting and lightshielding shelf 20 permanently secured to said base member for positioning the holder with respect to the hood and reflector, keeping the wiring out of the way of the lamp holders and closing the opening I3 in the reflector, provided for holder clearance in putting the reflector in place on the hood.

Each lamp socket of the holder comprises a two-layer insulating floating base 23 of sheet material, a pair of spring sheet metal contact and connector members 24, 25 riveted to the floating base, and a coil compression spring 26 fitting inside the casing and urging the floating base toward the open end of the casing. The inner the two sockets are connected, respectively, with .the four binding terminals 21, 2B, 29 and 30 adjacent the upper end of the vertical base member by means of sheet metal connector members 3|, 32, 33 and 34, respectively. These connector members are placed between two sheets and 33 of insulating material. The inner sheet 33 is perforated to provide openings to receive threaded eyelets 31 on the connector members 3|, 32, 33 and 34 into which eyelets the shanks of the binding screws 2i, 23, 29 and 33 are threaded, thus definitely positioning the upper ends of the connector members (Fig. 17). ,The outer insulating sheet 35 is provided with rectangular openings to receive the heads of the binding screw and to provide a space to enable the bared ends of the conductors to be wound around the shanks of the binding screws. The lower ends of the connector members are turned outwardly at 38 (Fig. 16) and extend into notches formed at the upper end of the slot 39 in the outer insulating member 33. The inner ends of the contact and connector members 24, 25 are inserted through the slots 39, respectively, and slipped under the lower ends of the connector members 3|, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, to provide an electrical connection from the binding screws 2i, etc., to the leaf spring contact portions of the members 24, 25. The contact and connector members 24, 25 are secured to the floating base 23 by means of rivets or eyelets 4|. The outer end of the coil compression spring flts around the disc-like insulating member 42 of the base 23 and bears on the outer edge of the annular insulating member 43 which extends beyond the edge of the disc 42. The annular member 43 and the disc-like member 42 are riveted together at 44. The inner disc-like member 42 is provided with a pair of openings 45 therethrough through which the contact pins 46 on the lamp4'l enter for engagement with the leaf spring contacts 48. The central opening 49 in the annular insulating member 43 has a diameter suflicient to permit the entering of the two contact pins 46 which, when thus entered, will engage the outer face of the inner insulating member 42 so that by turning the lamp the contact pins will be guided so as to register properly with the two holes 45 in the inner insulating member to enable the pins to enter through these openings and engage the spring contacts 48. The floating base 23 may then be pushed inwardly by exerting endwise pressure on the lamp from the position shown in Fig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 15, the yielding movement of the floating base 23 being sufflcient'to enable the lamp to be moved endwise sothat the contact pins 49 at the other end of the lamp can swing .46 at one end of the lamp are in alignment, re-

spectively, with the contact pins 43 at the other end of the lamp, and as the contact-receiving openings 45 of the floating base are in alignment, respectively, with the contact-receiving openings 50 of the nonfloating cover 5|, it follows that since the contact pins 46 at the floating base end have been entered into the contact-receiving openings 45, the contact pins 49 at the other end of the lamp will align with the contact-receiving openings 53 of the nonfloating base or cover 5|, so that when endwise. pressure on the lamp 41 is released, the coil compression spring 26 will ass-acts push the floating base 23 and lamp 4'] over toward the non-floatin'gbas'e and cause the contact pins 49 onthe' lamp to enter the contact-receiving holes 50 on the nonfioating base and engage the leaf spring ccnta-ctsonthe nonfloatingbase. The bases 23 and 5! are octagonal in shape to conform to the shape of the octagonal casings in which they are mounted, to hold the bases against} rotation in the casing.-

The plural lamp holder and starter switch holder iis similar in many respects to the lamp holder 3 just described. Itco'mprisesthe verti cally disposed sheet metal housing and lamp supporti-iig member 11 detach-ably secured to the hood I and a pair of lamp sockets, each omprising a sheet metal hez'r'agonalc'asing member 52 permanentlysecured to the member I for liousingthe insulating cover and contact -position'ing'ldiso 5| and the l-amp enga'g-ing contacts 53*and 54, a positioning wire deflecting' and light screen apron or shelfZi), permanently secured to the basernember t8, and a pair ofstarters'witch holders 55 and 56 mounted above the shelf 20.

The electrical contacts 53 and 54 are in general in the form of flat metal ribbons clamped be tween two insulating sheets 5'! and 5t. Theoutside ones of the contacts 53 and 56 of the lamp holders are electrically connected by a metal ribbon 59 (Fig. 20) clamped between these insulating sheets, this ribbon being riveted or eye- 1 lt'e'dat its ends at 60 to the connector and contact members and 54 (Fig. 20). Thecont'acts BI and 62 of the starter switches, respectively, and the inside ones or" the contacts 53 and 54 of the lamp holders, respectively, may be electrically connected by connector portions 63, each connector portion, starter switch engaging contact and lamp engaging contact being formed of an integral ribbon-like strip of metal. The com tacts 64 and 65, respectively, oi the two starter switch sockets may be electrically connected with the binding terminal plates E8 and 61, each bind ing "plate and its associated starter switch contact being formed of a single integral piece of sheet cally connected with the binding plate 83 by means of an integral extension of the binding plate riveted to this crossbar. The starter switch sockets comprise the aforesaid starter switch engaging'contacts 8 I, 62, i4 and 65 and a honeycomb housing. or casing 63 therefor. This honeycomb housing fits inside a U-shaped casing iii formed as an integral part of theshelf or apron 20. The shelf or apron is provided with a pair of positioning entrance openings H for the insertion of the starter switches. The honeycomb casing comprises three vertical partitioning members 72 of sheet metal having tongues i3 engagcable with slotsin the U shaped casing Hi (Fig. 19) and a pair of horizontal insulating sheets 7d, '35 (Fig. 23) in honeycomb relation to the vertical parti tions 72'' between which insulating sheets the contacts iii, 62, 64, 65 for the starter switches enter.

In orderto prevent shortcircuiting, an insulating channel-like shield "i6 may be inserted inside the embossment l8 underneath the binding screws 21, 28, 29,30, and TI.

The starter switch is inserted into the starter receptacle by bringing the enlarged heads on the starter switch contacts into alignment with the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots #8 in the partition to bring the switch contacts into en-' gagernent witlr the receptacle contacts GI, 64, 65

and 62. The switch is then turned to move the necks of the headed contacts into the restricted parts of the keyhole slots 18.

Referring to Fig. 27, which shows a wiring diagram, the terminals 21, 25 and 29 of the lamp holders 3 are connected with the ballast 2, as shown, the terminal 38 being connected with the binding plate 61 of the starter switch receptacle 56. The binding terminal 58 of. the lamp holder contact 54 is connected with the line L The binding terminal 56 is connected with the ballast by the conductor 19.

In use, when the current is turned on, the lamps perform in the usual manner, the filaments at the ends of the lamps being initially heated until. by the operation of the starter switch, discharge is initiated through the tube between the filaments.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for use with a lighting fixture having an elongated reflector, an elongated hood above said reflector and an elongated fluorescent lamp having end pin contacts, said. device having means forelectrical and mechanicalcon nection with the lamp, and means for supportingthe connecting means in the reflectorcomprising a substantially vertical metal plate ex tending transversely of the reflector and hood and having a lower part lying within the reflector for supportingthe contact means. and an up per part lying within the hood, aninsulating layer of sheet material juxtaposed in front of said plate both in the hood and in the reflector, ribbon-like conductors extending from the hood into the reflector superposed on said insulating layer, binding terminals for said conductors at the upper end thereof within the hood, a second insulating layer of sheet materialsuperposed on the upper portions of said conductors and: elec V trical connections from said ribbon-likeconduc metal. The crossbar connector 59 may be electrrtorsto the lamp-engaging contacts.

2. A device for use with a lighting fixture having an elongated reflector, an elongated hood above said reflector and an elongated fluorescent lamp having end pin contacts, said device having means forelectrical and mechanical connection with the lamp, and means for supporting the connecting means in the reflector comprising a substantially vertical metalpl'ate extending transversely of the reflector and hood and having a lower partlying within therefle'ctor for supporting the contact means and an upper part lying withinthe heed, an insulating layer of sheet material juxtaposed infront'oi said. plate both inthe hood and in the reflector; ribbon-like conductors extending -fror'n the hood into the reflector superposed on said insulating layer, binding terminals for said'conductors at the upper end thereof within the hood; a second insulating layer oisheet materialsuperposed-on the upper portions of said conductors andelec trical connections from said ribbon-like conductors to the lamp engag'ing contacts comprising ribbon-like conductors havingtheir inner ends extending between saidinsulating layers for contact with said firstribbcn-like conductors.

3; A device for use with a lig'hting' fixture com prising aninverted channel-dike hood and an ih verted channel-like reflector having its upper face detachably secured adjacent the lower edges of the hood, said device havingmeans for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp in said reflector comprising a holder having means lying within the reflector for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means for said holder extending from within the reflector into the hood, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position brought into engagement by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood, said supporting means comprising housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp.

4. A device for use with a lighting fixture co1n-= prising an inverted channel-like hood and a reflector having its upper face detachably secured adjacent the lower edges of the hood, said device having'means for supportingan elongated'cylindrical fluorescent lamp below said reflector comprising a holder having means lying below the reflector for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means for said holder extending from below the reflector into the hood, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position brought into engagement by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood, said supporting means comprising housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp.

5. A device for use with a lighting fixture comprising an inverted channel-like hood and a reflector having its upper face secured adjacent the lower edges or" the hood, said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp in said reflector comprising a holder havingmeans lying within the reflector for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means extending from within the reflector into connection with the hood, said holder being provided with positioning means rigid with respect thereto clamped between the lower part of the hood and the upper part of the reflector, said supporting means comprising housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp.

6. A device for use with a lighting fixture comprising 'an inverted channel-like hood and an inverted channel-like reflector having its upper face secured adjacent the lower edges of the hood, said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp in said reflector comprising a holder having means lying within the reflector for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means extending from Within the reflector into the hood, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood, said holder being provided with positioning means rigid with respect thereto clamped between the lower part of the hood and the upper part of the reflector, said supporting means comprising housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp.

8 7. A device for'use with a lighting fixture comprising an inverted channel-like hood, said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp below said hood comprising a holder having means lying below the hood for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means for said holder extending from below the hood into the hood and having housing and supporting means for at least partof the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position brought into engagement by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood.

8. A device for use with a lighting fixture comprising an inverted channel-like hood. said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp below said hood comprising a holder having means lying below said hood for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means for said holder extending from below the hood into the hood and having housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position, said supporting means and hood having cooperating guide means for guiding the latch means to latching position, said latch means being brought into engaging position by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood.

9. A device for use with a lighting fixture comprising an inverted channel-like hood, said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp below said hood comprising a holder having means lying below the hood for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means extending from below the hood into the hood and having housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position brought into engagement by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood, said supporting means comprising a generally vertical plate extending transversely of the hood on the lower part of which plate the lamp-engaging means are secured and the upper part of which plate carries part of the cooperating latch means.

10. A device for use with a lighting fixture comprising an inverted channel-like hood, said device having means for supporting an elongated cylindrical fluorescent lamp below said hood comprising a holder having means lying below the hood for detachable electrical and mechanical engagement with the end of the lamp and having supporting means for said holder extending from below the hood into the hood and having housing and supporting means for at least part of the conductors leading from the hood to the means for electrical engagement with the lamp, said supporting means and hood having cooperating latch means for securing the holder in position brought into engagement by upward movement of said supporting means with respect to said hood, said supporting means comprising a generally vertical plate extending transversely of the hood on the lower part of which plate the lampengaging means are secured andthe upper part of which plate carries part of the cooperating latch means, said plate and hood having co0perating guide means for guiding the latch means to latching position.

ARTHUR P. LEINEN.

REFERENCES CITED 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Stewart Feb. 4, 1890 MacCarthy Nov.. 4, 1941 Sparling June 2, 1942 Mueller July 21, 1942 Netting June 29, 1943 Mueller et a1 Sept. 18, 1945 Merrill Jan. 15, 1946 Mueller et a1 Apr. 30, 1946 Kulka Mar. 15, 1949 

